Pneumatic pressure apparatus



CC- 5, 1966 D. w` ENGLE PNUMATIC PRESSURE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-5heet 1 Filed May 28, 1954 w INVENTORY DOA/ALD W- EA/GLE,

@Ww/ww .CJTTOENEYS D. W. ENGLE 3,289,908

PNEUMATIG PRESSURE APFARATUS 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 196

United States Patent Oflce 3,289,953 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 3,289,908 PNEUMATIC PRESSURE APPARATUS Donald W. Engle, Sherman aks, Calif., assigner to US. Partition 8; Packaging Corporation, Miiwaultee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 2S, 1964, Ser. No. 371,059 Claims. (Cl. 226-1195) The present invention relates generally to the partition assembly making art, and more particuiariy to a novel pressure apparatus normaily located on the back table of a partition making machine for applying and maintaining the desired constant tension on a continuously fed endless web of paperboard between the punches and the grip rollers of the machine to hold an accurate register at the cut-off knife thereof, for preventing buckling of the web in critical reaches, and for reducing the braking force required to prevent overrun of the grip rollers.

In the manufacture of partition assemblies, various devices have been employed from time to time with con tinuously fed endless webs of paperboard. Swinging transverse bars, weights, and other items have been used with poor efliciency. Hence, in this quite old art, there has long existed the need for a device or structure which would prevent buckling of the paperboard web and apply and maintain the correct tension for proper feeding thereof through the punches and grip rollers and to the cut-off knife.

Hence, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel pressure apparatus for tensioning a continuous paperboard web which satisfies the aforesaid long-felt need.

Broadly, the present novel pressure apparatus for ten sioning a continuous paperboard web includes an elongated base plate over which the paperboard web passes and through which the pressure apparatus is supported in operative relation with a partition assembling machine, a pressure cylinder unit supported above the base plate, a pressure foot suspended from the pressure cylinder unit for transfer of pressure to a paperboard web, spaced runners selectiyely supported beneath or at each side of said presser foot, web guides, control and actuating means for said pressure cylinder, and interconnecting elements.

Therefore, other objects are to provide a novel pressure apparatus for tensioning a continuous paperboard web which is highly efficient for the intended purpose, is readily adjustable for varying the pressure exerted by the presser foot, is rugged and durable reducing maintenance to a minimum, can be employed effectively with minimum instruction, and otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with th accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE I is a diagrammatic layout illustrating a partition assembling operation including the present novel pressure apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of pressure apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention operatively mounted on a partition assembling machine;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view thereof, the paperboard web being shown in cross-section;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal crosssectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal crosssectional view taken on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal crosssectional view taken on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 8 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal cross-sectional View taken on the line 9 9 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of one of the runners;

FIGURE ll is a bottom plan View of one of the adjustable web guides; and

FIGURE 12 is an end view thereof.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 20 indicates generally pressure apparatus made in accordance with the principles of the present invention, illustrated as operatively mounted on the web feed-in end or back table of a partition assembling machine 22.

The pressure apparatus 20 includes an elongated base plate 24 which is bolted to the longitudinal frame side members 25 of the assembling machine 22. An upwardly opening channel 26 runs the full length of the base plate 24. Two spaced aligned angle brackets 28 are welded to the base plate 24, to the vertical portions of which is bolted a heavy elongated member 29 of angle crosssection with the horizontal flange 30 spaced from the base plate 24 (FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8).

An air actuated pressure unit 32 is mounted midway on top of the flange 30 by machine screws. The unit 32 is of standard construction obtainable on the open market and includes a depending reciprocable rod 33 extending through an opening 34 in the ange 30 (FIGS. 2 5). Within the unit 32, but not shown, are the usual heavy compression spring, a piston above and resting on the spring which supports the depending rod 33, and a chamber above the piston which receives air under pressure through fittings 35, air line 36,'and a standard gauge and pressure regulator 37. It will be understood that the air line 36 is connected into a source of air under pressure and that the gauge-regulator 37 is adjustable by means of a hand knob 38 to provide a constant supplyy of air under predetermined pressure to the unit 32 to maintain the spring therein under such selected constant pressure for a purpose described below. Air is exhausted from the unit 32 and the line 36 by the usual valve at the gauge-regulator 37.

The depending rod 33 has a reduced lower portion 39 from which is pivotally suspended a U-shaped presser foot 40 by means of opposed angle brackets 41 secured to the bight portion 42 of the presser foot 4t) by machine screws, the reduced portion 39 depending between said angle brackets 41 and pivotally connected thereto by a horizontally disposed peened-over pin 43 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The presser foot 40 includes parallel vertical legs 45 to the outer surface of each of which substantially centrally thereof are pivotally mounted two vertically aligned rollers 46 by means of stub pivot shafts 47 aaeaeos 3 threadedly mounted in the legs 45 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 7). The rollers 46 track vertically against blocks 48 welded to the angle member 29, one block 48 being disposed at each side of the presser foot 40. It is to be understood that the presser foot 40 has minimum play longitudinally of a web passing thereunder, or otherwise accuracy at the cut-ofic knife of the machine 22 would be impaired. The rollers 46 assist in obtaining the necessary close tolerance.

A bar 50 is mounted forwardly of the base plate 24, being mounted on the latter by means of brackets 51 which are secured beneath the base plate 24 by machine screws (FIGS. 2, 3 and 9). The bar 50 is held against removal by setscrews 52 (FIG. 2). Mounted on the rod 50 and extending rearwardly therefrom in positions beneath the presser foot 40 and above the base plate 24 are resilient runners or holddown straps 54 of the construction clearly shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 10. It will be noted from FIGURESv 2 and 4 that the presser foot 40 rests upon the runners 54 and that the exemplarily illustrated paperboard web 55 passes beneath the runners 54 and across the base plate 24. However, when paperboard webs 55 of greater widths pass across the base plate 24, the runners 54 would be positioned outwardly from the illustrated positions to prevent buckling of the web outwardly of the presser foot 4i) and the presser foot 40 would then engage the web 55 directly. Buckling of the web 55 would result in irregular slitting where slitters are employed adjacent the pressure apparatus 20. Wide webs 55 are used on machines simultaneously forming a plurality of partition assemblies.

A web guide plate 56 of the configuration clearly shown in FIGURES 2-4, 8, 9, ll and 12, isadjustably mounted on the base plate 24 at each side of the presser foot 46. Each guide plate 56 has a main blade portion 57 having a shoulder 58 along the edge which faces the presser foot 40 and beneath which the paperboard web 55 passes, as is clear from FIGURES 3 and 4. The guide plate 56 also includes an anchoring portion 59 having a slot 6i) therein, a downturned lip portion 61 at one end of the blade portion 57 for abutting the front edge of the base plate 24, and an aligning, locking portion 62 which extends a little downwardly from the plane of the blade portion 57 and engages in the channel 26 of the base plate 24. A machine screw 63 through the slot 60 maintains each guide plate 56 in selected position of adjustment by engagement in one of several threaded openings 64 spaced along the base plate 24 (FIG. 2).

It is clear from the foregoing that the present novel pressure apparatus is adapted to function eiciently in maintaining the desired tension on the paperboard web 55 being drawn through the partition assembling machine 22. The pressure can be quickly increased or decreased without stopping the machine 22 by manipulation of the knob 38. Paperboard of different Widths and thickness can be accommodated, it being understood that the space below each shoulder 58 is of suicient depth to receive paperboard of maximum thickness.

In FIGURE 1, there is shown diagrammatically the layout of the partition assembling machine 22 and the relation thereto of the pressure apparatus 20. The machine 22 includes forwardly disposed web feeding rollers 70 which pull the web 55 and feed it a predetermined distance beyond the reciprocating cut-olf knife 71 into interiitting relation with longitudinally moving edgewise disposed partitions, the knife 71 severing segments successively as intertted in the usual manner. The web 55 is drawn from a roll 72 and passes over, under and through rollers 73, 74, and 75, respectively, and over a hold-up plate 76 before reaching the pressure apparatus 20 mounted on the back table of the machine 22. Rollers 77 may also include slitting discs. The usual dies 78 and punches 79gcut out the necessary slots and notches.

It is apparent that the present novel pressure apparatus 4 fullls the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, pressure apparatus for maintaining desired constant tension on a continuous web of paperboard material, and the like, being fed to a partition assembling machine comprising a support for mounting said pressure apparatus in operative relation to a partition assembling machine, said support including an area over which a web passes in fully supported relatiton therewith, a pressure unit mounted on said support in spaced relation thereabove, said pressure unit including a reciprocatable depending rod and means for maintaining said rod in a position of rest when said pressure unit is not under pressure, means for supplying pressurized air to said pressure unit under a selected constant pressure, means for varying said supplied pressure, a presser foot suspended from said rod for reciprocation therewith and adapted to apply pressure to a web of material, runners of resilient material mounted on said support and adjustable laterally of a web of paperboard, said runners being adapted to engage a paperboard web in holddown relation, said runners being independent of said presser foot and being selectively locatable beneath said presser foot and laterally thereof, said presser foot being provided with rollers functioning to limit movement thereof in the direction of travel of a web of material and to reduce friction in reciprocation thereof, and vertically disposed surfaces operatively receiving said rollers for movement thereagainst.

said support.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said guide means includes a pair of spaced guide members, each member being adjustable transversely of a web of material, each member being locked in respect to said support to insure proper positioning.

4. In combination, pressure apparatus for maintaining desired constant tension on a continuous web of paperboard material, and the like, being fed to a partition assembling machine comprising a support for mounting said pressure apparatus in operative relation to a partition assembling machine, said support including an area over which a web passes in fully supported relation therewith, a pressure unit mounted on said support in spaced relation thereabove, said pressure unit including a reciprocatable depending rod and means for maintaining said rod in a position of rest when said pressure unit is not under pressure, means for supplying pressurized air to said pressure unit under a selected constant pressure, means for varying said supplied pressure, a presser foot suspended from said rod for reciprocation therewith and adapted to apply pressure to a web of material, runners of resilient material mounted on said support and adjustable laterally of a web of paperboard, said runners being adapted to engage a paperboard web in holddown relation, said runners being selectively positionable for engagement by said presser foot and laterally of the latter for engagement of a web of paperboard directly by the presser foot and by the runners.

5. In combination, pressure apparatus for maintaining desired constant tension on a continuous web of paperboard material, and the like, being fed to a partition assembling machine comprising a support for mounting said pressure apparatus in operative relatiton to a partition assembling machine, said support including an area over which a web passes in fully supported relation therewith, a pressure unit mounted on said support in spaced relation thereabove, said pressure unit including a reciprocatable depending rod and means for maintaining said rod in a position of rest when said pressure unit is not under pressure, means for supplying pressurized air to said pressure unit under a selected constant pressure, means for varying said supplied pressure, a presser foot suspended from said rod for reciprocation therewith and adapted to apply pressure to a web of material, said presser foot being provided with rollers functioning to limit movement thereof in the direction of travel of a web of material and to reduce friction in reciprocation thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS McManus 308-6 Lewis 226-195 Teplitz 226-199 X Coker 226-195 X Lehnert 226-199 X Zernov 226-195 X 10 M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Examiner.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Examiner.

R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner. 

4. IN COMBINATION, PRESSURE APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING DESIRED CONSTANT TENSION ON A CONTINUOUS WEB OF PAPERBOARD MATERIAL, AND THE LIKE, BEING FED TO A PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE COMPRISING A SUPPORT FOR MOUNTING SAID PRESSURE APPARATUS IN OPERATIVE RELATION TO A PARTITION ASSEMBLING MACHINE, SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING AN AREA OVER WHICH A WEB PASSES IN FULLY SUPPORTED RELATION THEREWITH, A PRESSURE UNIT MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT IN SPACED RELATION THEREABOVE, SAID PRESSURE UNIT INCLUDING A RECIPROCATABLE DEPENDING ROD AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID ROD IN A POSITION OF REST WHEN SAID PRESSURE UNIT IS NOT UNDER PRESSURE, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING PRESSURIZED AIR TO SAID PRESSURE UNIT UNDER A SELECTED CONSTANT PRESSURE, MEANS FOR VARYING SAID SUPPLIED PRESSURE, A PRESSER FOOT SUSPENDED FROM SAID ROD FOR RECIPROCATION THEREWITH AND ADAPTED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO A WEB OF MATERIAL, RUNNERS OR RESILIENT MATERIAL MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND ADJUSTABLE LATERALLY OF A WEB OF PAPERBOARD, SAID RUNNERS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A PAPERBOARD WEB IN HOLDDOWN RELATION, SAID RUNNERS BEING SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID PRESSER FOOT AND LATERALLY OF THE LATTER FOR ENGAGEMENT OF A WEB PAPERBOARD DIRECTLY BY THE PRESSER FOOT AND BY THE RUNNERS. 